Page 167 of The Forbidden Note

I feel him glaring at me. “And you’re screwing your step-sister.”

“You’re such a prick,” I mutter.

“You’re such a bastard,” he answers.

For a moment, there’s silence.

Then we both chuckle.

“This is freaking insanity,” Sol mumbles.

“You think they’re still looking for us?”

“Definitely.”

My phone buzzes.

I work it out of my pocket and check.

Dutch: Where the hell are you?

Finn: Why aren’t you guys out yet?

Sol’s phone vibrates too.

He’s probably getting the same panic messages.

I text Dutch back.

We’re fine. Just making a quick stop. We’ll meet you at home. Get Grey and Cadey out of here.

Dutch answers back.

Don’t do anything stupid.

The walkie shrieks.

All I hear is the sound of someone screaming at Rick for tripping on a power cord.

“I think that’s our cue,” I mumble.

Sol nods.

I push the door and it creaks.

There’s no one in sight.

We hurry to the exits, racing into the shadows and hiding in classrooms every time we see security.

It feels like forever, but we finally make it outside. Sol and I keep running until we get to the dark, abandoned gas station parking lot. Our catering van was parked here earlier. It’s gone now. Dutch must have taken the girls home.

Beneath my mask, I’m drenched in sweat.

Victory tastes like salt and weed.

“I hope these boxes were worth the effort.” Sol drops his on the ground. It has two sweaty palm imprints on the side. “That was insane.”

I glance up at the sky. “The fireworks are over.”

---